HISD classifies Mark Twain's magnet program as "Other" rather than "Fine Arts". Programs that are classified as "Other" receive less funding than Fine Arts magnet programs.  Please click here to see a Houston Chronicle article with more information. 

If you haven't already emailed your letter to Tony Houck at tvhouck@msn.com regarding the LDC funding decrease outlined below, please work the following sentence into your letter so that the Fine Arts is emphasized. 

Sample:

My child has greatly benefited from the Creative Writing portion of LDC at Mark Twain. I ask that you reclassify the Mark Twain LDC magnet program from "Other" to "Fine Arts".

Letter Writing Request to Help Save Our Twain's LDC Magnet Program

Dear Twain Parent,

You are receiving this correspondence to ask that you write a letter to your HISD Board Trustee in order to save the Mark Twain Elementary School LDC (Learning Development Center) Magnet program from severe funding cuts. This is the program that is taught by Ms. Erin Diaz (Kindergarten - 2nd Grades) and Ms. Pansy Gee (3rd - 5th Grades).   

Twain Elementary will potentially lose over 60% of the magnet funding. The amount of funding our school will lose is more than our PTO can supplement to keep the LDC program at our school.

For Mark Twain Elementary Zoned Parents, Student and Alumni, please address the letter to Mr. Mike Lunceford, HISD District 5 Board of Education Trustee.  

If you are a Magnet Parent, Student or Alumni, please address your letter to one of the following Trustees that represent the Houston Neighborhood that you live in. If you aren't zoned to Mark Twain Elementary, please click on the following HISD District Maps to determine which District you reside in.  

District I Map - Anna Eastman, Secretary

District II Map - Rhonda Skillern-Jones, First Vice President

District III Map - Manuel Rodriguez, Jr., Second Vice President

District IV Map - Paula M. Harris

District V Map -  Mike Lunceford   

District VI Map - Greg Meyers

District VII Map - Harvin C. Moore

District VIII Map - Juliet K. Stipeche, President,

District IX Map - Wanda Adams, Assistant Secretary

Thank you for your time in helping Mark Twain keep funding for the LDC program.  If you have any questions, contact Tony Houck at tvhouck@msn.com.

Thank you, Rita Lee and Keri Valdes, Twain Elementary Outgoing and Incoming Communication Directors 

The following is an Example Letter.  

Individual letters are the best,

but if you are at loss for time or words,

please feel free to use it.

COPY & PASTE the Letter below  

into an Email or your word Processing program.   

Please fill in the blanks and email your completed letter to Tony Houck at  tvhouck@msn.com.

(Month) (Day) (Year)

(Mr. or Ms.) (First name) (Last name)

HISD Trustee District (___)

c/o HISD Board Services
Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center
4400 West 18th Street
Houston, TX 77092-8501

RE: Please Vote to Fully Fund the LDC (Literary Development Center) Magnet Program at Mark Twain Elementary  

Dear Trustee (Last name):

My name is (your first and last name) and I am a (Student, Parent or Alumni) from Mark Twain Elementary School.

It has come to my attention that Twain Elementary School may lose funding of the school-wide LDC Magnet program. I am writing to you to let you know that this program has greatly helped the students at Mark Twain to grow not only their reading abilities, but most importantly their writing and comprehension abilities.

(Leave this paragraph out or State examples of your child or personal benefits from the LDC program or include a personal story. Tell your representative why this issue is important to you and how it affects you, your family member and your community.)

On behalf of all of our students at Mark Twain Elementary, please vote to continue full funding of the LDC program at Mark Twain Elementary. I am counting on you to do right by our current students and the future of our community.

(Sincerely, or Respectfully,)

(SIGN YOUR NAME )

(Print your name)

(Street address)

Houston, TX (Zip Code)

(email address)

(phone number)

The Literary Development Center at Mark Twain Elementary is a unique language arts lab. Every classroom teacher and his/her students rotate through the Center in two week blocks to learn reading and writing strategies and are given opportunities to practice them in authentic activities. Each lesson is planned based on each teachers' own professional growth needs and on the class' instructional needs.

Students participate in real life reading-writing units that integrate many curriculum areas simultaneously. Because the LDC teachers see each student starting in kindergarten and continuing through the 5th grade, learning becomes more individualized as student progress is monitored from grade to grade. On-going reading and writing conferences with students, and anecdotal grading, information is shared and instruction is fine tuned for each child. The teachers' observations are an invaluable tool throughout the child's elementary experience and Mark Twain. Teachers are in involved not only in their traditional role of instructor, but as a learner and a researcher as well.

The LDC class is a "protected time" to observe children in an active learning setting, where the teacher-student ratio is cut in half. It is the perfect opportunity for the teachers to see and participate in using new teaching strategies. It is an ongoing professional development model that builds a strong sense of community between students and teachers. It has become a "safe place" for all involved to take the "risks" that are necessary for academic and professional growth.

Literature Development, better known as LDC is Mark Twain's school wide magnet program.  Students zoned to Mark Twain automatically participate in the LDC.  Parents of students outside of Mark Twain's zone must apply through the HISD magnet process.